Livy had died in Florence, Italy. Her funeral was held in Elmira, New York July 14 of 1904. Sam would take residence in Tyringham, Massachusetts for four months before moving into an apartment at 21 Fifth Avenue, New York, where he would keep residence until June of 1908, when his final home, known as Stormfield, was built in Redding, Connecticut. Following the death of his youngest daughter, Jean, on December 24th of 1909, Sam likely found the solitary life in this house unbearable and took his final trip to Bermuda, January 7th of 1910. He stayed there until April 12. When he came to leave the Islands, he was too weak to be dressed. Wrapped in his coat and a few rugs, Clemens was carried in a canvas chair to the SS Corona, then taken by the tender to the RMS Oceana. He died April 21st of a heart attack on April 21, 1910, in Stormfield, one day after Halley's comet's closest approach to Earth
July 14 Thursday – Livy’s funeral was held in Elmira [July 19 to Collins]. The New York Times reported , July 15, p.7:
Mark Twain’s Wife Buried.
ELMIRA, N.Y., July 14.—The home of Gen. Charles J. Langdon witnessed the gathering of a large number this afternoon to pay their last respects to the memory of his sister, Mrs. Samuel L. Clemens, who died in Italy. Burial was in Woodlawn Cemetery. With Mr. Clemens were his two daughters, Misses Clara and Janet [sic] Clemens.
July 15 Friday – At the Wolcott Hotel, 31 Street and Fifth Ave. N.Y. He wrote his thanks to Edward Eugene Loomis, vice president of the Delaware & Lackawanna R.R., husband to Julie Langdon Loomis:
July 16 Saturday – In N.Y.C. Sam wrote to Ellen O’Neil in Hartford.
Dear Ellen: / Of all the tributes of homage & affection for our lost one that have come from her friends in many lands, that which came from you & John has moved me most & touched me deepest. Those white roses spoke a message of love as pure & fragrant as themselves; & the like of that love was in Mrs. Clemens’s heart for you two to her last day. She held you in as high honor as she held any of her other friends, & she never spoke your names but with affection.
July 17 Sunday – Emilie R. Rogers (Mrs. H.H. Rogers) wrote to Sam enclosing a letter of condolence from Helen Keller dated dated June 14. Keller had graduated in June from Radcliffe College, Harvard University. “I could not find the words…” Emilie wrote, being unable to send sympathy before now [MTHHR 578].
Thomas R. Lounsbury wrote from New Haven, Conn. a letter of condolence to Sam. “No death has for a long time so profoundly affected me as that of your wife” [MTP].
Seth Low wrote a nearly illegible letter of condolence to Sam [MTP].
July 18 Monday – N.Y.C.: Sam’s notebook: “At 9.15 I and Ugo (butler; he arrived from Italy with the horses on Friday) left for Lee & arrived at 1.07. / Jean & Katy left at 3.30 & arrived about 7” [NB 47 TS 16].
The regional paper, The Berkshire Gleaner, July 20, p. 1 reported a Monday, July 18 arrival for Sam and Saturday, July 16 for Clara and (mistakenly) for Jean.
Mark Twain Arrives.
July 19 Tuesday – In Tyringham, Mass. Isabel V. Lyon wrote for Sam to A. Chalkley Collins, that “it is impossible for him to appear in public—he is in very deep mourning” [MTP].
A. Chalkley Collins, attorney in Great Barrington, Mass. wrote to invite Sam to a celebration of “old Home Week the last day of July” [MTP]. Note: Lyon’s answer above.
Sometime between July 19 and 28, Sam posed for photographs by Joseph Gaylord Gessford in neighboring Lee, Mass. [MTP photo binders].
July 20 Wednesday – In Tyringham, Mass. Sam sent the Bohan in Roseville, Ill. and added the following:
July 21 Thursday – In Tyringham, Mass. Isabel Lyon wrote for Clara Clemens to Martha G. Pond thanking her for her “sweet letter of sympathy.” Clara had been “utterly prostrate” since Livy’s death and so Isabel answered with thanks [MTP].
Sam also wrote to Mary B. Cheney in South Manchester, Conn.
July 22 Friday – In Tyringham, Mass. Sam wrote to Mr. Van Dreele. “I & my stricken family hold ourselves under the deepest obligations to you. You removed the difficulties which beset our mournful home-coming, & made our way smooth & untroubled. We cannot thank you enough, but we do thank you most cordially” [MTP].
July 23 Saturday – In Tyringham, Mass. Sam wrote two letters (the first not sent) to Frank Mason (US Consul at Frankfurt), complaining of the neglect in sending certificates for Livy’s casket to the Prince Oscar before it left from Naples, threatening to put the casket ashore. The second letter:
July 24 Sunday – Tyringham, Mass.: Sam’s notebook: “Rain—rain—rain. / [Horiz. Line separator] / Cold. We built a fire in my room. Then clawed the logs out & threw water, remembering there’s a brood of swallows in the chimney. The tragedy was averted” [MTB 1224; NB 47 TS 16 -17]. Note: Paine added the printed notebook dates, which were not part of Sam’s entries; he also made other small changes.
July 25 Monday – In Tyringham, Mass. Sam wrote to Susan Crane.
July 26 Tuesday – Jean Clemens’ 24 birthday.
In Tyringham, Mass. Sam wrote to daughter Clara, who had left Lee, Mass and gone to New York with Katy Leary to be treated for her nervous condition by Dr. Angenette Parry in N.Y.C.
July 28 Thursday – In Tyringham, Mass. Sam sent the “TO WHOM THIS SHALL COME” note to Virginia F. Boyle in Memphis, Tenn., and added, “Few will know, better than you, the weight of the blow which has fallen upon us” [MTP]. Note: postmarked July 28; addressed in Lyon’s hand.
Sam also sent the “TO WHOM THIS SHALL COME” note to Charles Warren Stoddard in Cambridge, Mass., and added, “I thank you, dear old friend of the days when I was happy” [MTP]. Note: postmarked July 28.
July 29 Friday – In Tyringham, Mass. Sam wrote to John Francis Holme of Bandar-Log Press. “I am exceedingly glad to be a Bandar Log Town stock and I sent my best thanks. The stuff has reached me and I highly prize it. Immeasurable disaster has befallen me since the La Shelles were under my roof and this has changed my permanent address. Sincerely Yours, S.L. Clemens” [MTP]. Note: Mr. & Mrs. Kirke La Shelle visited in Florence after April and before Livy’s death.
July 30 Saturday – In Tyringham, Mass., Isabel Lyon replied to Joseph Gessford, photographer.
In returning the prints to you, Mr. Clemens wishes me to say that you may use any of the small photos that you choose for the Berkshire Topics—but he would like you to keep for him the large fine one, the one that you have marked “Splendid” and beneath your writing Mr. Clemens has written “Best of all”—
Mr. Clemens would like to know what the price would be for 2 of himself & dog—mounted 6 of the large one mounted 12 ” ” ” ” unmounted
July 31 Sunday – Lee, Mass: Sam’s notebook: “LEE, Mass. / (Berkshire hills.). Last night the young people out on a moonlight ride. Trolly frightened Jean’s horse. Collision. Horse killed. Rodman Gilder picked Jean up,— unconscious; she was taken to the doctor, per the car. Face, nose, side, back contused; tendon of left ancle broken” [MTB 1224: NB 47 TS 17]. Note: Paine slightly altered the notebook entry, presented here.
Clara Clemens remembered:
August – Sam’s notebook: contains the title of Joseph C. Lincoln’s book, Cape Cod Ballads and Other Verse, by Joe Lincoln (1902), and a stanza from the poem [Gribben: 410: NB 46 TS 33]
“Italian With Grammar” ran in the Aug. issue of Harper’s Monthly [Camfield’s bibliog.].
The Plasmon Co. of America was nearly insolvent. John Hays Hammond was now the general manager of the company and took steps to revive things. From a 1910 decision on ensuing lawsuits:
August – Sam’s notebook: contains the title of Joseph C. Lincoln’s book, Cape Cod Ballads and Other Verse,
by Joe Lincoln (1902), and a stanza from the poem [Gribben: 410: NB 46 TS 33]
“Italian With Grammar” ran in the Aug. issue of Harper’s Monthly [Camfield’s bibliog.].
August 1 Monday – Sam arrived in New York and visited daughter Clara to disclose Jean’s accident. Clara then left Dr. Parry’s sanatorium and traveled to Lee, Mass. to visit injured sister Jean. She would stay three days and leave just after Sam arrived on Aug. 4 [Hill 97].
August 2 Tuesday – Sam was in New York City, likely staying at the Grosvenor Hotel.
Otto Spengler for Argus Pressclipping Bureau sent a form letter to Sam, enclosing an article (not in the file) “certainly of interest to you,” and solicting they might serve him with others [MTP].
Amy S. Hutton wrote from Tyringham, Mass to Sam. She had heard of Jean’s accident. A trained nurse, she offered her services and a wish for a “speedy recovery” [MTP].
August 3 Wednesday – Sam was in New York City, likely staying at the Grosvenor Hotel.
Otto Spengler for Argus Pressclipping Bureau re-sent again the form letter of Aug. 2 [MTP].
August 4 Thursday – Sam traveled from N.Y. to Lee, Mass: Isabel Lyon wrote in her journal on Aug.
“Last evening Mr. Clemens arrived and this afternoon Santissima [Clara] went back to N.Y.” [Hill 97]. Note: since Clara stayed with Jean for three days, she arrived Aug. 1.
Alice Hegan Rice wrote a short note from Hyannisport, Mass. to Sam, pasting a short verse on writing, “if this doesn’t warrant a house in your vest pocket, then I am no judge of literature” [MTP]. Note: the verse remains in the file, suggesting Sam did not feel the same.
August 6 Saturday – In Lee, Mass. Sam wrote to his nephew Samuel E. Moffett now in Mr. Vernon, N.Y.
Yes, Clara has been in New York, but we keep it private because her health is in a wrecked condition & it is a damage to her to see anyone. She could not escape, here. She came up last Tuesday—being uneasy about Jean who is doing plenty well enough & doesn’t need her; so she & Katy returned to New York to-day. The two railway trips will do her a damage, sure.